Re: engine braking on steam locomotives

Using the Johnson bar is effective in slowing down an engine. With the throttle closed and the engine moving forward the closer to center you move the bar the more drag is produced slowing the engine. In dead center I have had the bar hold the speed on an engine going down a 1% grade. The was with stephenson valve gear. Once you pass center and get into the reverse part of the quadrent the drag really starts getting heavy. The futher you move it the more the drag. I never did take it more than half way down in reverse and it held a slow speed on about a 2% grade. But let me emphasize, this was a 1 1/2" scale steam engine with 5 cars and 4 people on a ten wheeler. But I have heard many old time engineers who ran steam on major railroads say they used the valve gear. It was actually against the rules but, they said everyone did it to save air on grades and it was particulary effective on light engines especially those with high drivers.